- the feasts:
- God appointed several festivals among the Jews. The Passover was celebrated on the 14th, or rather 15th day of the first month in the ecclesiastical year, which was the seventh of the civil year, and lasted seven days. The Pentecost was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the passover, in memory of the law's being given to Moses on Mount Sinai, fifty days, or seven weeks after the departure out of Egypt. The word is derived from the Greek word Πεντηκοστη, which signifies the fiftieth. The Hebrews call it the feast of weeks, "And thou shalt observeª° the feastª of weeks,ª of the firstfruitsª of wheatª harvest,ª and the feastª of ingatheringª at the year'sª end.ª" {Exd 34:22}. The feast of trumpets, celebrated on the first day of the civil year, when a trumpet was sounded, to proclaim its commencement, which was in the month Tisri, answering to our September, "Speakª° unto¹ the childrenª of Israel,ª saying,ª° In the seventhª month,ª in the firstª [day] of the month,ª shall ye have¹ a sabbath,ª a memorialª of blowing² of trumpets,¹ an holyª convocation.ª ... Ye shall doª° no¹¹ servileª workª [therein]: but ye shall offerª° an offering made by fireª unto the LORD.ª" {Lev 23:24-25}. The new moons, or first days of every month, were, in some sort, a consequence of the feast of trumpets. God ordained that, by giving him the first-fruits of every month they should acknowledge him as the Lord of all their time, and own his providence, by which all times and seasons are ordered. The feast of expiation or atonement was kept on the 10th day of Tisri or September: the Hebrews call it Kippur, i.e., pardon or expiation, because it was instituted for the expiation of their sins. The feast of tents or tabernacles was so called, because the Israelites kept it under green tents or arbours, in memory of their dwelling in their passage through the wilderness. It was celebrated on the 15th day of Tisri, and continued eight days. The first and last days are the most solemn. Besides the feasts mentioned by Moses, we find the feast of lots, or Purim, which was celebrated among the Jews of Shushan on the 14th of Adar, which answers to our February. The feast of the dedication of the temple, or rather, of the restoration of the temple, which had been profaned by Antiochus Epiphanes, which is thought to be the feast mentioned in the gospel "Andª it wasª° atª Jerusalemª the¹ feast of the dedication,ª andª it wasª° winter.ª" {Jhn 10:22}, was celebrated in the winter. Moâdim, properly means assemblies, convened at an appointed time and place. "These¹ [are] the feastsª of the LORD,ª [even] holyª convocations,ª which¹ ye shall proclaimª° in their seasons.ª" {Lev 23:4} + "These¹ [are] the feastsª of the LORD,ª which¹¹ ye shall proclaimª° [to be] holyª convocations,ª to offerª° an offering made by fireª unto the LORD,ª a burnt offering,ª and a meat offering,ª a sacrifice,ª and drink offerings,ª every thingª upon his² day:ª" {Lev 23:37} + "Threeª timesª thou shalt keep a feastª° unto me in the year.ª ... Threeª timesª in the yearª all¹ thy malesª shall appearª° beforeª¹ the Lordª GOD.ª" {Exd 23:14-17} + "Bringª° no¹ moreª° vainª oblations;ª incenseª is an abominationª unto me; the new moonsª and sabbaths,ª the callingª° of assemblies,ª I cannot¹¹ away with;²° [it is] iniquity,ª even the solemn meeting.ª ... Your new moonsª and your appointed feastsª my soulª hateth:ª° they are¹ a troubleª unto me;¹ I am wearyª° to bearª° [them]." {Isa 1:13-14} + "Lookª° upon Zion,ª the cityª of our solemnities:ª thine eyesª shall seeª° Jerusalemª a quietª habitation,ª a tabernacleª [that] shall not¹ be taken down;ª° not¹ one of the stakesª thereof shall everª be removed,ª° neither¹ shall any¹ of the cordsª thereof be broken.ª°" {Isa 33:20} + "The waysª of Zionª do mourn,ª because none¹¹ comeª° to the solemn feasts:ª all¹ her gatesª are desolate:ª° her priestsª sigh,ª° her virginsª are afflicted,ª° and she¹ [is] in bitterness.ª°" {Lam 1:4} + "I will also cause all¹ her mirthª to cease,ª° her feast days,ª her new moons,ª and her sabbaths,ª and all¹ her solemn feasts.ª" {Hsa 2:11} + "Behold¹ upon¹ the mountainsª the feetª of him that bringeth good tidings,ª° that publishethª° peace!ª O Judah,ª keepª° thy solemn feasts,ª performª° thy vows:ª for¹ the wickedª shall no¹ moreª°¹ pass throughª° thee; he is utterly¹ cut off.ª°" {Nah 1:15} + "Afterª thisª there wasª° a feastª of the¹ Jews;ª andª Jesusª went upª° toª Jerusalem.ª" {Jhn 5:1} + "Forª I wouldª° that yeª knewª° what greatª conflictª I haveª° forª you,ª andª [for] them¹ atª Laodicea,ª andª [for] as many asª have²° notª seenª° myª faceª inª the flesh;ª" {Col 2:1}
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